Otoacoustic emission- to assess risk factors and frequency of hearing loss in neonates

Objective: To find out the risk factors of hearing loss and its frequency in neonates Type of study: Descriptive study Study centre: Sree gokulam medical college and research foundation Inclusion criteria: Neonates born in sree gokulam medical college and research foundation from january 2015 to january 2016 Exclusion Criteria: Neonates with unilateral oae refer and those failed to get parental consent Method of study: Neonates born in sree gokulam medical college and research foundation from january 2015 to january 2016 were selected. Detailed history taken and examination done. Neonates with risk factors such as respiratory distress, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, preterm, born through cesarean section, with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy induced hypertension and neonates without risk factors were subjected to otoacoustic emission on both ears. Two category were made, category 1 – neonates with risk factors and category2- – neonates without risk factors. Results were statistically analysed. Results: All the risk factors assessed in the study which include, prematurity (p=0.003), low birth weight (p<0.001), cranio-facial anomalies (p<0.001), maternal diabetes mellitus (p<0.001), pregnancy induced hypertension(p<0.001) and caesarian delivery (p<0.001) were found to be statistically significant for neonatal hearing loss Conclusion: This study confirms that neonates with risk factors are found to have greater percentage of hearing abnormality when compared with neonates without risk factors when screened with oae.